Hundreds of politicians, business figures and dignitaries attended the service along with his extended family, friends and supporters.

Attending the service was former British prime minister Sir John Major, who signed the Downing Street Declaration with Mr Reynolds in 1993 and paved the way for peace talks involving the British and Irish governments and Sinn Fein.

A large number of members of the judiciary also attended as did Church of Ireland Archbishop Michael Jackson.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny also attended, along with President Michael D Higgins, a minister in Mr Reynolds's second government.

Sir John Major at the funeral of Albert Reynolds [NIALL CARSON/PA WIRE]

Figures from politics across Ireland attended including the former SDLP leader and Nobel prize winner John Hume, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, a TD in the Irish Republic since 2011, Alasdair McDonnell, leader of the nationalist SDLP, and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.

The mass was celebrated by Fr Brian D'Arcy, a close family friend, with Archbishop Martin and a number of other concelebrants.

The mass began with a special mention for Sir John's attendance, which was greeted with a round of applause throughout the packed church.

Fr D'Arcy said it was particularly important for the family that the former PM was able to attend.

The chief celebrant told mourners: "His [Sir John's] words were typical: 'where else would I be on this day?"'

Tributes had flooded in from home and abroad in the days since his death, with contemporaries heralding the huge legacy Mr Reynolds left after taking risks to carve out the Northern Ireland peace process.

Among those who spoke in glowing terms about his statesmanlike leadership were Sir John and US President Bill Clinton.

Sir John said Mr Reynolds was a "loveable and remarkable friend".

He added: "We’ve been able to have the fiercest of rows without leaving scars.

"I understood Albert’s difficulties and he understood mine."

In a message from the Vatican's secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, Pope Francis praised his work and offered condolences to the family.

It said: "The Holy Father learned with sadness of the death of the former taoiseach Albert Reynolds and he asks you kindly to convey his condolences to Mrs Reynolds and their children and family."

"Recalling with gratitude the late taoiseach's efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Ireland, His Holiness prays for the eternal repose of his soul.

"To all those gathered for the funeral rites, the Holy Father imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and hope in the risen Lord."

Mr Reynolds is survived by his wife Kathleen, two sons and five daughters.

The family confirmed last year that he had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Born in November 1932 in Rooskey, Co Roscommon, Mr Reynolds was elected to the Irish parliament in 1977 and went on to become taoiseach in February 1992 in a coalition government.